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Emmy Noms Are In, And '30 Rock' Doesn't Deserve Its Bounty

Neila Jamee |
July 23, 2009 | 3:43 a.m. PDT

Staff Reporter
30Rock
NBC's "30 Rock" garnered 22 Emmy nominations, but our TV critic says
the show isn't as good as the heaps of praise it's getting. And Alec Baldwin
should just stay home. (photo courtesy NBC)
The much-anticipated Emmy nods were announced on Thursday with its newly added seven slots for the best show categories. This allowed for a few surprises, but the nods were mostly business as usual. "30 Rock" is the show to beat with a whopping (and undeserved) 22 nominations. For the dramas, AMC's "Mad Men" has 16 nominations. The Emmys will be hosted by my love Neil Patrick Harris (I watched the Tony's solely because he hosted. I know.) and will air live on CBS on Sept. 20. Before then, here are my thoughts on the noms that should win, will win, and my plea to Alec Baldwin to stay home. Yeah, I said it!
BEST COMEDY SERIES NOMINATIONS

Weeds

Entourage
Family Guy

Flight of the Conchords

How I Met Your Mother 
The Office
30 Rock 
"30 Rock" is officially Aunt Gertrude. You know, the aunt who has overstayed her welcome. It was fun to see her after all those years, but damn, it's time to bow out. Oh, and there's also the fact that "30 Rock" is not that funny. It's really not. Tina Fey, my dears, is not a good actress. She's funny. She's a trip. But actress? She is not. Her range is flat, and she delivers the same nuisances in just about every episode. I could watch the Pilot to Season 3's "Kidney Now," and Fey will not have progressed in the series she's turned into her very own acting school. Speaking of the show as a whole, it's a creative concept, with dry humor, and an eclectic cast (I do enjoy Tracy Morgan, Jack McBrayer, and Jane Krakowski, but besides the lovely lady, they're not award winning), but it's undeserving of the noms the Emmys are accustomed to giving it year after year. "30 Rock" is nothing "The Office" or "Saturday Night Live" hasn't said years ago.
"30 Rock" is up against last-year nominees, "Entourage" and "The Office." HBO's headliner is one of my favorite shows, but last season wasn't exactly the best; the same goes for "The Office."
What's new in this category? First-time nominees "How I Met Your Mother," "Flight of the Conchords," "Weeds," and "Family Guy," all of which deserve a shot at the golden statue. "How I Met Your Mother," has long-been denied even while being one of the strongest sitcoms (it's "Friends" and "Seinfeld" meshed together) on television in years. "Weeds" is exceptional on Showtime, and do I need to say anything about "Flight of the Conchords" besides FINALLY? "Family Guy," by the way, is the first animated series to be nominated for Best Comedy since 1961.
Snubbed: Chuck (NBC), The Big Bang Theory (CBS), Two and a Half Men (CBS)
Should Win: How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
Will Win: 30 Rock (NBC)
BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES NOMINATIONS

Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock

Steve Carell, The Office 

Jemaine Clement, Flight of the Conchords 

Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

Tony Shalhoub, Monk

Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men
Dear Alec Baldwin,
I think the last time I enjoyed you was in 1988's "Beetle Juice." So it's been awhile since I last appreciated your acting potential. With "30 Rock," you tend to grate on my nerves more than making my cheeks hurt from laughing too hard. Now this really has nothing to do with your nomination and expected win. I'm just wondering if you could maybe, um, watch the awards from home. Maybe let Jim Parsons or Steve Carell accept the award on your behalf (they'll keep it far away from Sheen and Shalhoub, I promise) and kind of ... take care of it for you for the rest of time. We wouldn't want your Emmy case to be too crowded, right?
Gracias,
Me
On another note, it's nice to see two new faces in this category with Clement and Parsons (Sheldon!!), but the remaining nominees have been household names for years. Seriously, another nom for Shalhoub? For "Monk?" Really?
Snubbed: Zachary Levi (Chuck). Will someone appreciate him!?
Should Win: Jim Parsons or Steve Carell 
Will Win: Alec Baldwin 
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
NOMINATIONS
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who? 

Toni Collette, United States of Tara

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine

Tina Fey, 30 Rock

Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds

Sarah Silverman, The Sarah Silverman Program
When will the Emmy voters realize that playing yourself does not mean you're a good actress? Tina Fey, I'm looking at you. It's true that Fey is delightfully funny on "30 Rock," but when I think of a best actress, I think of a woman who has the ability to do more than recite her lines as if she speaking like that on a daily basis. I want her to be able to transform herself out of a real-life comfort zone. Toni Collette plays a woman with multiple personalities, Julia-Louis Dreyfus plays a divorcee, Mary-Louis Parker plays a weed dealer. Tina Fey plays herself. 
Snubbed: America Ferrera (Ugly Betty)
Should Win: Mary-Louise Parker. I wouldn't mind Collette either. 
Will Win: Tina Fey
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES NOMINATIONS
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men

Kevin Dillon, Entourage

Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother

Jack McBrayer, 30 Rock

Tracy Morgan, 30 Rock

Rainn Wilson, The Office
NPH has this in the bag with Piven's absence from the ballot. Ari would be so f***ing pissed right now. McBrayer, Morgan, and Wilson are all deliriously funny on their respective shows, but nothing warrants a win. I'm semi-flabbergasted Wilson was even nominated with the lack of material he's had this season on "The Office;" I was sure co-star John Krasinski would get the nod. There's potential for Cryer to pull an upset, but it's hard to imagine such an event next to Harris, who took Barney Stinson from cad to a loveable goof on "How I Met Your Mother." Did I mention he's doing hosting duties on the night, too? 
Snubbed: John Krasinski (The Office), Jeremy Piven (Entourage)
Should Win: Neil Patrick Harris
Will Win: Neil Patrick Harris
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies

Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock

Elizabeth Perkins, Weeds

Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live

Kristin Wiig, Saturday Night Live

Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty
I have to say it. I'm not feeling the duo from SNL. Am I the only one who finds Kristin Wiig irritating? Kristin Chenoweth is a beautiful singer, but her acting has stayed on an unchanged course for years. How many times can you play the same high-pitched whiny annoying character? I want to put my bet on Jane Krakowski, but Elizabeth Perkins may pull something out of the bag. Vanessa Williams is a long shot, but I absolutely indulge myself in Wilhelmina Slater's antics. Williams portrays the fashionably evil character in the most fascinating and addicting way. 
Snubbed: Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother)

Should Win: Jane Krakowski
Will Win: Jane Krakowski or Elizabeth Perkins
BEST DRAMA SERIES NOMINATIONS 
Big Love

Breaking Bad

Damages
Dexter 

House 

Lost

Mad Men 
Besides "Friday Night Lights" being ignored ... again ... this category contains some of the strongest writing, directing, and casting on network and cable television. It's great to see newcomers "Big Love" and "Breaking Bad" join "Damages" (FX), "Dexter" (Showtime), "House" (Fox), and "Lost" (ABC). "Mad Men" is the clear winner, but any of these shows exemplify quality storytelling. "Lost" upped the ante this year with time travel, House and Cuddy are finally gettin' on, and "Breaking Bad" features the crazy talented Bryan Cranston. The writing teams from "Big Love," "Damages," and "Dexter" make sticky and difficult premises into believable and relevant situations. 
It's interesting "True Blood" didn't receive a nod with the critical adoration and fan love, but I'm more outraged that "Friday Night Lights" continues to be treated like an unwanted orphan. The character-driven drama about a football team in Dillon, Texas, reaches beyond the boundaries of football and sinks deep within the connection between family and friends. The cast, led by Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton, seamlessly work together to transform fiction into realism. 
Snubbed: True Blood, Friday Night Lights
Should Win: It's like choosing children!
Will Win: Mad Men
BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES NOMINATIONS
Simon Baker, The Mentalist

Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment

Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad 

Michael C. Hall, Dexter 

Jon Hamm, Mad Men

Hugh Laurie, House 
I'm a bit taken aback by the inclusion of Simon Baker after one season on the CBS hit, "The Mentalist," but it's not from disgust. Baker, now surrounded by seasoned lead actors, is finally given the acknowledgment he deserves. "The Mentalist" could have very easily turned into your average cop/investigative/crime show, but with great writing and Baker at the helm, it passed predictable and transitioned into one of a kind. Bryan Cranston deserves this win, but I'd be happy with any of these fine men winning. Gabriel Byrne is fantastic in "In Treatment" (quickly becoming one of my faves), Michael C. Hall is literally delicious in "Dexter," and no one plays a doctor quite like Hugh Laurie. Jon Hamm may be suave in "Mad Men," but there's not enough sweet-talking to stop Cranston from cranking another win for "Breaking Bad." 
Snubbed: Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights)

Should Win: Bryan Cranston
Will Win: Bryan Cranston
BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES NOMINATIONS
Glenn Close, Damages 

Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters

Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU

Holly Hunter, Saving Grace

Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men

Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer
Elisabeth Moss is a great newbie to add to the list, but January Jones should have gotten this nomination for "Mad Men" after one of her strongest years ever. Glenn Close, Sally Field, and Holly Hunter continuously bring epic film performances onto the small screen. And although I'm a huge "Law & Order: SVU" fan, Hargitay's noms are getting stale. 
While these nominations were somewhat expected, I'm outraged at the snubs in this category. Connie Britton, especially, has deserved this win since her first words on "Friday Night Lights." Britton plays wife, mother, and educator Tami Taylor on the drama, bringing real guts to a strong, independent woman. 
There's also Ellen Pompeo from "Grey's Anatomy," who has the ability to turn ridiculous storylines into watchable television. Katherine Heigl definitely lacks this ability. That should be enough for a Pompeo nom, I say!
Snubbed: Ellen Pompeo (Grey's Anatomy), Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights), January Jones (Mad Men)
Should Win: Connie Britton. Oh, yeah, no.
Will Win: Last year's winner, Glenn Close
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES NOMINATIONS
Christian Clemenson, Boston Legal

Michael Emerson, Lost

William Hurt, Damages

Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad

William Shatner, Boston Legal

John Slattery, Mad Men
I have a sinking feeling Shatner will capture this category one last time, but I'm too overjoyed with Aaron Paul's nomination. If you haven't seen his performance on "Breaking Bad," you're doing yourself a disservice. "Lost's" Michael Emerson, aka Benjamin Linus, should finally win in this category, though; I don't think any other actor could pull off the dichotomy that Emerson plays week after week. His facial expressions alone send me into a tizzy. 
I'm disappointed to see Josh Holloway overlooked, but then again, I do think his performance was overly adored. It also would have been nice to see Justin Chambers receive a nom for his portrayal of Alex on "Grey's Anatomy." He was excellent coping with Izzie's cancer storyline this season, and he didn't even need to partake in ghost sex. 
Snubbed: Justin Chambers (Grey's Anatomy), Josh Holloway (Lost)
Should Win: Michael Emerson or Aaron Paul
Will Win: William Shatner
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES NOMINATIONS
Rose Byrne, Damages

Hope Davis, In Treatment

Cherry Jones, In Treatment

Sandra Oh, Grey's Anatomy

Dianne Wiest, In Treatment

Chandra Wilson, Grey's Anatomy
It seems to be tradition to give Chandra Wilson and Sandra Oh of ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" an automatic nomination for standing upright, but they're barely a blip on the radar with Rose Byrne and the ladies from "In Treatment" battling out for the supporting actress nod. My fave is Byrne who plays Ellen Parsons, a kickass law student on FX's "Damages," but her character is more than naïve apple pie. It's awesome watching her character grow year after year. The women from "In Treatment" have strength in numbers, but Cherry Jones is the only one I'd bet money on. 
Snubbed: Evangeline Lilly (Lost), Rachel Griffiths (Brothers & Sisters), Katherine Heigl (Grey's Anatomy). But after Heigl's Emmy nomination withdrawal in 2008, it's hilarious. 
Should Win: Rose Byrne 
Will Win: Any one of the ladies from In Treatment
For the complete list of nominees for the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards, check out the Emmy's website.
Surprised by the Emmy noms? Who was snubbed? Besides Alec Baldwin, who should stay home? Let me know in the comments. 


 

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